The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has successfully passed the European Commission's Pillar Assessment and thus obtained PACA status. The DAAD is now the first German science organisation to be able to independently implement EU projects in the fields of education and science worldwide. The DAAD's Brussels office will be enhanced and expanded in this context.

"The award of PACA status is not only recognition of our work but also opens doors for the future. The DAAD is now a strategic partner of the EU – as a European organisation in the field of education and science," said DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. "Our structures and processes have been thoroughly reviewed, with a result that sends a strong signal about our capabilities and opens up new strategic opportunities at European and global level. I would like to thank everyone at the DAAD who made it possible to obtain PACA status through their excellent work."

What does PACA mean?

The abbreviation PACA (Pillar Assessed Contribution Agreement) refers to a comprehensive accreditation procedure of the European Commission. It certifies that institutions are capable of using EU funds legally compliant and efficiently within the framework of indirect fund management. Among other things, accounting, public procurement law and internal control systems are examined. Only a few organisations in Europe meet these requirements – the DAAD is now one of them.

The DAAD as a European organisation

Obtaining PACA status is part of a successful development that the DAAD has been driving forward for several years: from a national player to a European organisation. As the National Agency for Erasmus+ in higher education, the DAAD has been responsible for the EU mobility programme in Germany since 1987, with around one million German university staff and students having benefited from funding for stays abroad to date. The DAAD is also active within the European University Association (EUA), is involved in the EU Science Dialogue and is a founding member of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), an association of European funding organisations.
PACA status marks the beginning of a new phase of Europeanisation for the DAAD: in future, it can be directly engaged by the Commission to implement cooperation projects in the global education and science area. 

Brussels branch becomes European liaison office

To reflect its new role, the DAAD is upgrading its existing branch office in Brussels in terms of structure and content: it will become a liaison office to the EU. In future, the office will act as an interface between the DAAD headquarters in Bonn, the Berlin office, the 20 DAAD branch offices worldwide and the European institutions. It will initiate and support EU projects, raise their profile and represent the interests of the DAAD in Brussels. 
At the same time, a separate work unit for PACA projects is being set up at the Bonn headquarters. Together with the Brussels office, it will manage the implementation of new EU projects and support DAAD departments and foreign offices in planning and implementation.
"These structural changes show once again that Brussels and the European Union are not 'foreign countries' for us at the DAAD; the EU is our second home," said the DAAD President.